Improvement in children s carriages



H. m. RICHARDSON.

Childrens Carriages. No. 143,421, Patented'Oct. 7, 1873.

FFIGE.

HENRY M. nIoHARDSoN, 0F. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHILDRENS CARRIAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,421, dated October 7, 1873; application filed June 23, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. RICHARD SON, of Boston, in the coiuity of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Childrens Oacrriages, of which the following is a specifica mm This invention relates to that class of car struction that the top may be dropped in front of the seat as well as behind it, or fixed in an upright position over the carriage, or inclined at various angles; and, also, in the mechanism by which the same is accomplished, consisting of a pair of rigid arms secured rigidly to the carriage-top and jointed to recessed arcs attached to the body, the arms being provided with spring-bolts or their equivalent, which engage with the recesses on the said arcs to retain the top in the desired position.

Heretofore canopy tops of childrens carriages have been made to drop back, like the ordinary top, and rest in a vertical or inclined position behind the seat, but have not, to my knowledge, been made to drop in front.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation of my improvement with the top shown in an upright position. Fig. 2 is a like view with. the top shown dropped forward, its position when thrown back being represented by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the rigid arms by which the canopy is supported and one of the arcs upon which it is adjustable, both being shown detached.

Ateach side of the body D of the carriage, and at or near the front end of the seat, I attach one of the arcs B B. The arms A A are jointed at their lower extremities, at the center of the arcs, to the projection 12, Fig. 3, and are secured rigidly to the top 0 at a slight distance from the center, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The arms A A may .be made of any ornamental forin, preferably of light open-work, as seen in Fig. 3, and of metal or other suitable material. They are jointed at one side of the arcs, as seen in Fig. 3, and their opposite sides are provided each with a lug, e, which embraces the arc and prevents any lateral motion of the arms, but leaves them free to traverse the arcs in either direction front or back, so that the top 0 may be lowered in front of the seat, as seen in- Fig. 2, arranged in an upright position, as in Fig. 1, or thrown back between the handles, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, or placed in any intermediate position, as occasion may require.

The arms are each provided with a springbolt, f, Fig. 3, or other equivalent fastening, which engages with the recess 9' on the arcs when the canopy is placed in anupright position, as in Fig. 1, securing it until the bolts are withdrawn by the hand.

The arcs may be provided with a series of such recesses, so that the top may be retained at any desired angle. At one end of the arcs is a Slot, h, Fig. 3, through which the guardstrap may be passed and secured.

The advantages attained by having the top so constructed as to be capable of being lowered in front of the seat, or inclined at various angles, as well as being placed upright or thrown back, are numerous and important.

By this means the child can be effectually protected fiom the rays of the sun in front, as well as from above and behind, and also from cold or strong winds, or from dust; and, moreover, the nurse or person driving the carriage from behind will be enabled to watch the child constantly, Speak to it, and attend to many of its requirements, without leaving her position in the rear.

A top or canopy constructed in accordance with my improvements may also be applied to other than childrens carriages, if foinld desirable.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a childs carriage, a rigid top or canopy, O, fixed upon the arms A, pivoted to the sides of the body, so that said canopy may drop in front of the seat or behind it, or be held in an upright or intermediate position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the arms A, having the spring-bolt f, and pivoted upon the areshaped irons B, with the top 0, and applied to the body D, substantially as herein shown and described, for the purpose specified.

Witnesses.

- HENRY M. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses LORENZO H. RICHARDSON, OHAs. M. HIGGINS. 

